How to Soundproof a Floor Against Noisy Neighbors

In our everyday life, we must encounter noise pollution in one way or another. Even though we cannot flee from it, unwanted airborne and impact noises can be regulated. This piece widely explains how to sound insulate floors in homes effectively.
We have also presented various phonic floor soundproofing systems from BERL.IE, which is best for developers, contractors, and domestic properties. This blog provides club owners with the solution to messing with authorities concerning noise pollution. You’ll also be sorted as a resident with kids or who loves loud music.

Understanding Impact-Noise and Airborne Noise

Impact-noise results from a direct collision with a surface, i.e. footsteps, dropping something walking on heels, etc. It travels through the building structure as vibrations.

Airborne noise is caused by the phone ringing, people’s voices, TVs, etc. It travels through ceilings, floors, or any openings on the walls.

Factors to Consider before Installing Sound Insulation Systems On Floors

Below are various considerations to make before settling for the sound insulation systems for your floor. These considerations will help you successfully improve sound insulation on party floors.

• How loud is the noise you’re striving to regulate? Various degrees of noise will need various degrees of floor soundproofing. Airborne impact noise needs different floor soundproofing from impact noise.
• Type of nose- The genre of noise generated determines what soundproofing systems to be used.
• Type of the floor- Solid/concrete floors require different soundproofing from timber joisted ones.
• Source of the noise- Are you aiming to manage noise originating below or above your property?

Ways to Improve Sound Insulation in Floors

We’ve highlighted these several tips to reduce the chances of noise pollution and victorious sound test. When improving an existing party floor, you must consider the following phonic designs.

• Installing soundproof floor underlayment- This tip is much effortless for those with naked floorboards. It’ll be easier to make the subsequent soundproof floor. If you already have covered your floor with vinyl, linoleum, tiles, or carpet, you will require to take them out before installing the soundproof floor underlayment.
• Apply rubber floor mats- If the noise results from appliances or machines vibrating on the floor, this is easily solvable with rubber floor mats. When these rubber mats are placed directly below the devices, they shroud the vibrations, thus reducing the noise’s impact.
• Install different flooring- You can choose to install hardwood, tiles, carpet, or linoleum. Any of the above will regulate the impact of floor noise.
• Add soundproofing compound- Soundproofing compound services from Berl. i.e., are the best. These can be added between two hard surfaces or directly to the existing floor.
• Installing acoustic wool- Acoustic wool absorbs sound and regulates the noise’s impact.

How to Soundproof a Timber Floor from Impact and Airborne Noise

Unlike solid/ concrete floors, soundproofing timber floors need more attention to impact and airborne performance. Airborne noise is the major issue in timber floors as they lack a concrete floor’s mass. Various methods must be applied to achieve the best results.

Traditionally, architects and engineers used acoustic floor battens to soundproof timber floors. These battens provide a void in which services can be operated between them. They then require additional components to meet Part E Regulations specifications. These specifications include installation of mineral wool sandwiching the battens (25mm), OSB chip panel above (18mm), and plaster panel (19mm).

Currently, designers are applying modern techniques to soundproof timber floors. A good example is the installation of dry screed panels. This technique involves adding extra dry screed panels (28mm) to the floor height. This copies the advantages of concrete floors, making them perfect for timber.

Dry screed techniques have less impact (79mm) on the overall floor height, offering better room space. You can also add ceramic tiles directly on dry screed panels, unlike wood-based methods. Dry screed panels’ high density enables them to handle airborne noise while effectively reducing impact noise.

Soundproofing mineral wool rolls positioned between the joists achieve even greater results. Resilient bars on the timber joists’ bottom alongside two acoustic plaster panels (15mm each) also garner good points.

The Main Reasons for Excess Floor Noise

There are many reasons why party floors fail air tightness and sound testing from Berl.ie. Below are the main ones

• When feathery blocks are applied in the inner envelope construction, they allow sound to transmit along them both horizontally and vertically from time to time.
• Screwing down the acoustic floor system to the joists or bridging the floor with skirting.
• Flexible bars missing or not fitted correctly to the floor joists’ underside.
• Presence of extra recessed lights on the phonic ceiling.
• Lack of mass or acoustic insulation not fitted correctly on the diving floor.
• When the windows have secondary glazed units as a minimum or lack double-glazing.
• If the entire building has existed for a long time, you might require reconstructing or shifting to a new one. As time goes by, the initial construction materials wear out, causing the entire building to weaken.

Building Environment Resources Ltd (Berl.ie)

Your house/ premises require the best sound and air tightness testing results. Air tightness testing involves airflow assessment through the building envelope. Before 2011, air tightness degrees weren’t necessary for Building regulations. Air leakages became a major problem in many buildings leading to the new specification.

This test detects air leakages or uncontrolled airflow through cavities, gaps, or cracks in the building envelope. These issues result from inappropriate use of building materials, adverse weather issues, poor quality, or structural damage.

Our sound testing services tell the acceptable sound levels between two spaces. The test should be conducted in the infancy of your project to achieve the best results. During sound testing sessions, it’d be essential to note the following:

• No other noisy operations should be around the premises under testing.
• Floors, walls, and ceilings must be completed.
• All doors must be installed.
• All windows should be fitted and well closable.
• Any ventilation systems presented should be closed.
• The premises should have the power within 240v.

Below are various reasons we handpicked Berl. I.e. as your sound and air tightness testing partner. Berl.ie team is fully experienced and certified by NSAI. Our expertise and equipment enable us to try various building genres, from multi-story office blocks to studio apartments. Our performance is recognized by BER assessors, engineers, and architects worldwide.

We test sound and air tightness according to 2011 regulations which mentioned that buildings need an air tightness degree of 7 or less. We are also easily accessible for testing with immediate results. Berl.ie ensures practical, cost-effective measures to their clients if the building fails the test.

Berl.ie offers various supporting services from smoke tests, airborne testing, and thermal imaging. Most importantly, our equipment is adjusted annually to meet UKAS requirements.

The Bottom Line

Unless it’s stopped on its way, the noise will always travel through buildings regardless of the genre of the floor. After identifying the noise and its intensity, you can decide which floor sound insulation technique suits you the best. Our tips will go a long way in ensuring you a noise-free life. In the long run, you can save yourself the cost of treating noise-related issues such as headaches.